How To Color Code Your Bible | A Simple Bible Highlighting Guide

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Should I color code my Bible? 

My Bible Highlighting color code system has been my go-to Bible study method for years. I’ve been using it since 2016 and friends, it never gets old. It’s a strategy that has grown with me. It’s helped me catch my footing when life’s challenges tried to trip me up, kept me seeking during the good moments, and brought a breath of fresh air to the mundane parts of scripture and Bible study (Leviticus for the win).

In addition, it’s simple. With this Bible highlighting strategy, I never walk away from the Bible empty-handed. There is always a lesson in it. Always something to act on, or at the very least (for lack of a better word) something to pray on.

I’ve spent the last two years sharing how I color code my Bible with readers because to put it simply – it works! I know I’m not alone in this because we have over 4000 women to date using our Bible highlighting guide. I’m excited to share it with you too!

What is the best way to highlight the Bible?

How do I color coordinate the Bible? 

How do I use a Bible Highlighting or Bible Color Code System without writing in my Bible?

Get the full scoop in this article. I’m sharing tips for color coding your Bible. Learn how to highlight the Bible, different Bible marking methods for different types of study, and recommended Bibles for simple Bible color coding. Walk away knowing the best way to highlight the Bible for effective Bible study. 

As a bonus, I’m granting you access to our Color coded Bible pdf (a printable Color Coding notecard and bookmark designed to fit right in your Bible)! *happy dance*

Ready for a fresh and simple approach to studying the Bible?

Why Should I Highlight When Reading the Bible?

It’s not just that I enjoy coloring (although I really truly do). Color coding my Bible helps my Bible come to life. As I read through the chapters and take in all of the wisdom, instruction, warning, and promise; color coding allows me to take in the information in a way that my mind will digest and retain. I can mark what areas of my life a verse may be applicable to AND REMEMBER it!

Suddenly the verse carries 10X more meaning because I can see how it applies to me. That is how a good Bible study session is supposed to work.

So today I am going to share with you, how and why I color code my Bible. Download your free Bible study color code when you sign up for our email community below!

There is always a lesson to be learned while studying the Bible. Using A Bible Highlighting Key helps me hone in on it. Share on X

Snag Our Free Bible Color Coding Guide!

If you’d like a Bible color coding chart that is ready to use, its yours in just three steps:

1 | Join our online Bible Study Community!

2 | Go to your email and download the free Bible Highlighting guide (it’s sent straight to your email inbox so there’s no delay)! This is one of our most loved community resources and it’s totally free by the way. We’ve made sure that it works with the basic highlighting and color pencil sets so you don’t have to make any fancy purchases to use it. Chances are you’ve got what you need at home.

3 | Head to our Facebook Bible Study group so you can see examples of the highlighting key in action!

If your heart is set on making your own Bible marking system, you’re only a few short steps away. Ready for it?

How Do You Color Code the Bible? | Get Start With This 4 Step Bible Marking System

Creating your own Bible marking guide is easy. You’ll find all the steps in our Bible Highlighting Journal on Amazon! but I’m going to break it down here for you too. 

1. Choose your core study categories.
2. Select your colors. 
3. Pick your symbols (I’m sharing my main 3 below).
4. Start reading and marking up that Bible! 

Step 1 | Choose your core study categories.

Step 1 is where we answer the question, how should I highlight my Bible? Our generic key has 6 generic categories: Biblical Womanhood, Names & Characteristics of God, Examples to Follow, Promises and Prophecy, Sin & warnings, Verses to Think On. That being said I want you to know you don’t have to come up with a bunch of categories right away for this method to work well. If you only want to focus on two bible topics, select just two colors. You can add on as you expand your study. Create your color key to fit your need. You’ll find printable DIY Bible color coding templates in our Bible Color Code Kit on Etsy. 

A tip for creating Bible Color coding categories:

How do I categorize the Bible? Instead of trying to categorize the whole Bible, I categorize my study by focusing on what I have to learn. 

D you have about God and faith? What parts of your faith are you struggling with? What are you hungry to learn? The answers to these questions will give you your categories.

I created the original Bible Highlighting key because I wanted to keep my time in the Bible, focused. I wanted to be able to see how the Bible and all its wisdom and instruction applied to my life, and I wanted to get specific. So I started asking the questions.

Who am I according to the Bible?
What was I created for?
How do I know who God is?
How do I build a relationship with God?
What separates us from God?
How do I HONOR God on a day-to-day basis?

How do I know what to highlight in the Bible? Each verse that I highlight will answer one of the questions ( aka categories) presented on the Bible Highlighting guide. 

Step 2 | Bible Study Colors and Symbols

How do you color coordinate the Bible? Now that you know what categories you’re studying, it’s time to assign them each a color. I had some fun with it and used what I’ve learned about Bible colors and symbolism to match colors and categories. There are so many fun Bible verses about color. 

Generic colors will make finding Bible highlighters much easier. On our Bible marking guide pdf, we keep it simple and basic: Red (or pink), orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Perfect for our 6 color Bible Highlighting system. 

Whether you settle with a 4 color Bible highlighting system, a 5 color Bible highlighting system, or 6; a basic highlighter set will do the trick as long as they’re bleed-proof.

What are the best Bible highlighters? This is my favorite brand of Highlighter for Bible use. Light with no smear, they make Bible highlighting a breeze.

I’ve also heard really good things about these Bible highlighters. 

How To Mark Your Bible With Symbols?

UPDATE: A lot of people have been asking “how do I mark up my Bible?” and if I have tips for Simple Bible study marking. There are only 3 symbols I use when marking my Bible.

TRIANGLE – Prayer prompts.

CIRCLE – Significant Words. I often write the definitions of these words in the columns of my journaling Bible.

UNDERLINE – Joining words. These are words that point to condition, order, response, or consequence (i.e. if, and, then, or). They are usually attached to promises or instructions. They clarify what part of the instruction or promise we are responsible for, what part God is responsible for, and the consequences of following through or dropping the ball.

If you enjoy using symbols to study the Bible you’ll LOVE this article on verse mapping!

Step 4 | Read Your Bible

The Bible Highlighting Key is meant to enhance your Bible study, not take over it. The work of studying is still there, so open up your Bible and get to reading. When you find yourself lingering over a specific verse or passage, or have the desire to dig into that passage more – THAT is when you pick up your color-coding guide.

This method will work with any Bible, but there are also Bibles specifically for Bible journaling and Bible highlighting. I use the Journal the Word Journaling Bible. I love it because the pages are sturdy, it holds color well, the text is easy to read, and the extra-wide margins provide plenty of room for notes. is perfect for that. I’ve been using mine for nearly four years now.

If you find yourself a bit more on the scholarly side and into Bible annotation, The Oxford Annotated Bible is so richly packed with commentary, additionally history, maps, and geographical visuals, it’s a great tool for deep study and color coding.

Find additional Bible Journaling Bible Recommendations here. Whether you prefer the King James Version of the Bible, the NIV Study Bible, or the ESV Study Bible, there’s a journaling Bible on this list for you.

The Inductive Bible Study Color Code

The Bible study key is a great tool to use alongside both the Inductive Bible Study method or the SOAP Bible Study Method. There’s even an Inductive color code bookmark in this kit!

To begin Inductive Bible Study Color Coding assign colors to the questions (or categories) who, what, when, where, and why. We’ve included an Inductive Bible Study Color Code and questions to go with it in our Vibrant Bible Study Kit!

What Is the Best Way to Highlight The Bible?

Listen, I know that was a lot of information (and resources) to throw at you. To keep things as simple and clean as possible, we’ve created a Bible Journal  How to Highlight the Bible guide that holds all the Bible highlighting resources and instructions in one place.

Find the digital version here. Take it with you anywhere you do Bible study and even customize the Bible Color coding keys to fit your personal study and goals for spiritual growth. 

This is the best way to highlight the Bible for beginners and we’re so stoked to hear how this Bible Highlighting method improves your Bible study!

Reader Question: Should I color code my Bible? Is it OK to highlight in the Bible?

I had this question come in via email and I thought what better place to answer it than here.

“Is it a sin to highlight in the Bible?”

I believe we can safely say no, it’s not a sin to highlight in the Bible. I have yet to come across any scripture that speaks against highlighting or writing in your Bible. There are, however, Bible verses that speak against adding or taking away from God’s written word (see Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32, and Revelation 22:18).

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2

God gives us this instruction for two reasons:

1. His honor.
2. Our protection. 

Mankind has a way of twisting scripture for our own comfort and gain. Not only is God dishonored when scripture is distorted He’s heartbroken because it leads those He loves away from the truth; away from Him. We don’t want any part of that. So is it ok to add or take away from scripture? Never. Is it ok to highlight in your Bible? I’d say you’re safe.

What if I Prefer NOT to Highlight In My Bible?

Before we dig too deep into the Bible Highlighting Key I want you to know that if you are among the lovely ladies who prefer not to write or highlight in their Bibles, that OK!! This will still work for you! Beyond just using this Bible highlighting key in my Bible, I use it for devotionals, sermons, and book notes too. That’s a big part of why I like this study method. It’s versatile. Not sold on using highlighters in your Bible? No sweat, here are some alternatives:

• Build a Bible study notebook and use highlighters to organize your notes. I typically use those ninety-nine-cent composition notebooks you can find at Walmart. I’m also a huge fan of these composition notebooks from Amazon.
• Use color tabs or sticky notes in place of highlighting. This will allow you to keep the pages of your Bible pristine while still taking note of what you’re learning and making key scriptures easily accessible.

If you are concerned about highlighter bleeding through your Bible or notebook pages you can either swap out the highlighter and use colored pencils (I recommend these colored pencils for all things artsy and Bible journaling)  

Want to See the Bible Highlighting Guide In Action?

I’m excited for you to see the Bible study highlighting system at work! See how members are using it in our Bible study group on Facebook! If the Bible highlighting kit isn’t for you, no worries. You can still download the free Bible Highlighting Key in the box below!

Enjoy your bright and new beginning to Bible journaling.  If you haven’t already, make sure you download my Bible Study Color Key so you can get started on the right foot! Here are a few other Bible Study tools you might find helpful:
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